What Should I Do if My Car is in an Accident and I Have No Insurance?

In the unfortunate event that you are in an accident with your car and you have no insurance to cover the damages, what should you do? 

This common scenario can lead to confusion and anxiety, especially if you don’t understand the law or if you’re not sure what your rights are as a driver. 

One of the first things to know is that if you have no insurance, which means your liability limits are zero, you are still responsible for property damage and medical bills even if it wasn’t your fault.

Contact your Auto Insurance Company

If you have insurance on your car, contact your insurance company as soon as possible to let them know what happened. 

Your insurer can help you get a rental car or even fix your vehicle (but don’t drive it until it’s been inspected). 

You may also be able to make a claim with your insurance company for any medical expenses and out-of-pocket losses you might have had as a result of an accident. This way, you won’t need to pay for all that stuff out of pocket.

Call the Police

The first thing you should do after a car accident—whether you're okay or not—is called 911. If possible, get names, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance information from other drivers. 

You might also try to take photos of damage or skid marks on roadways. (Don't put yourself at risk by getting out of your car.) After that, it's time to decide if you want to file a claim for your vehicle. 

Most people assume their insurance will cover any damage caused by another driver but it doesn't always work that way.

Get Medical Attention

The first thing you should do after a car accident—even before calling 911—is to see how badly you’re hurt. 

You don’t want to go through your whole life with injuries that could have been fixed right away, so give yourself a quick once-over. 

Then, call 911, or better yet take yourself to urgent care or your doctor as soon as possible. Make sure they know it was a car accident so they can document any injuries. 

If your vehicle isn’t drivable, let them know that too so they can get a police report for insurance purposes; otherwise, it may not get on your insurance records for weeks or months down the line when you eventually do file an insurance claim.

Contact Your Insurance Company

If you were involved in a car accident with no insurance, your first step should be to get in touch with your insurance company. 

Tell them what happened (be as specific as possible) and they’ll let you know whether or not you are covered by their policy. If you are, then they’ll take care of any claims made against you; otherwise, it’s time to talk to a lawyer.

Call a Lawyer

While not every attorney has experience with motor vehicle accidents, almost all will have some experience with personal injury cases. 

In fact, most attorneys—from solo practitioners to big-firm partners—spend most of their time on civil litigation. Even those who don't take auto accident cases will likely know someone they can refer you to or know of a firm they can recommend that specializes in these types of claims. 

Whatever your situation, call a local attorney for legal advice on how to proceed after an accident without insurance. 

You may end up gaining more than just good legal advice—you may be able to find out about potential ways forward for your case.

Hire a Lawyer to Fight Your Case

Another option you have for dealing with your car accident case when you don’t have insurance is to hire a lawyer to fight for you. 

When it comes to personal injury claims, most lawyers require that their clients pay them at least a portion of what they get awarded through a settlement or jury award. 

However, some types of cases are called contingency cases because there’s no cost upfront—

you only pay when you win or settle your case. If your car accident case involves significant injuries (or even death), it might be worth getting legal advice from a lawyer who will take contingency on your case.